Remote villages in Caraga get P1.4-B road projects thru PAMANA

 From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 29, 2023): Remote villages in Caraga get P1.4-B road projects thru PAMANA (By Alexander Lopez)

ROAD PROJECTS. Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante, and Department of Public Works and Highways 13 (Caraga) Assistant Regional Director Alex Ramos (seated from left) lead the turnover of 10 road projects worth PHP1.4 billion in a ceremony held in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on Friday (July 28, 2023). The road projects will benefit residents of 10 remote villages in four provinces in Caraga. (Photo courtesy of OPAPRU)

BUTUAN CITY – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Friday formally turned over PHP1.44 billion worth of road projects to various towns in four provinces of the Caraga Region.

The completed projects, which were funded under the national government’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program in 2017 and 2018, consisted of two farm-to-market (FMR) roads, five roads with bridges, two roads, and one road rehabilitation.

Five of the projects are in Agusan del Sur – the PHP135-million FMR in Barangay Tagabase, Esperanza; the PHP207-million road in Binucayan and PHP197-million road in Sto. Tomas, both in Loreto; and a road project with a bridge worth PHP147.75 million in Agdawan, and PHP147.75 million worth of road rehabilitation in Binicalan, both in San Luis.

Two of the completed projects are in Surigao del Sur – a PHP177.30-million road in Marihatag, and an FMR in Maitum, Tandag City worth PHP78.80 million.

One project is situated in Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte worth PHP130 million, and the road in Bugsukan, Taligaman, Butuan City worth PHP50 million.

Another road project with a bridge was completed in Mahan-ub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte worth PHP220 million.

The formal turnover was facilitated in a ceremony in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, led by Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., along with Director J. Anthony Peña of the PAMANA National Program, and Director Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña of the Area Management Unit of OPAPRU in Eastern Mindanao.

“Residents in the Caraga Region will reap the benefits of the completed infrastructure projects, especially those living in hard-to-reach areas,” Galvez said in the OPAPRU statement issued on Saturday.

The enhanced connectivity through the new projects, he added, would also improve the quality of life of the residents by providing them better access to much-needed basic services and ensuring the timely delivery of goods.

Meanwhile, Lapiña said the completion of the projects was made possible with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 13 (Caraga).

“By enhancing accessible roads and accelerating mobility in critical sectors like health, education, agriculture, and economic activity, this endeavor significantly enhances public safety, ensuring a sustainable and peaceful environment for all. Together, we are building pathways to progress and prosperity, leaving a lasting positive impact on the lives of the communities we serve,” she said.

The turnover of the projects was also witnessed by Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante, Cabadbaran City Mayor Judy Amante, and DPWH-13 Assistant Regional Director Alex Ramos.

[Retired Analyst Note: Taken from the Website of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity

What is PAMANA? 

The PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program was launched in 2011 as a priority program of the Government that supports the Peace Negotiation Track and contributes to the goal of attaining Just and Lasting Peace. It was embodied in Chapter 9 on Peace and Security of the Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016 and Chapter 8 on Peace and Security of the updated Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016 which indicated PAMANA as the Government’s development program for isolated, hard-to-reach, and conflict-affected communities.

At present, PAMANA is embodied in Chapter 17 on Attaining Just and Lasting Peace of the Philippine Development Plan for 2017-2022 as the Government’s peace and development convergence program to communities in isolated, hard-to-reach, and conflict-affected and vulnerable communities. It is also affirmed to support the Six-Point Peace and Development Agenda particularly on the implementation of peace-promoting, catch-up socio-economic development in conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable areas.

What are the objectives of PAMANA? 

PAMANA aims to contribute to (a) addressing issues of injustices and improve community access to socio-economic interventions; (b) improving governance by building the capacity of national government agencies and local government units for a conflict-sensitive, peace-promoting, culture-sensitive and gender-sensitive approach to human rights promotion and development; and, (c) empowering communities and strengthening their capacities to address issues of conflict and peace.

What are the strategic pillars of PAMANA?

The PAMANA framework is anchored on three (3) complementary strategic pillars that define core interventions to achieve just and lasting peace:

Pillar 1
Policy reform and governance interventions addressing issues of injustices relative to land security, natural resources, identity, and human rights

Pillar 2
Capacity-building interventions relative to strengthening government institutions and empowering communities

Pillar 3
Peace-promoting socio-economic interventions

Partnerships for the implementation of these interventions were forged over the years.

What areas are covered by PAMANA?

PAMANA has seven (7) geographical zones which have been selected and prioritized to complement peace process lines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1206721